Wirtz has been recognized as the top footballer of the season.
Florian Wirtz Crowned Germany's Men's Player of the Year
Florian Wirtz, the 22-year-old prodigy, has been voted as Germany's Footballer of the Year for the 2024-25 season. The Bayer Leverkusen star's impressive performances earned him 191 votes in the annual poll organized by Kicker and the Association of German Sports Journalists [1][2][4].
Wirtz's move to Liverpool came with a transfer fee potentially reaching £116 million ($156 million), marking a significant shift in his footballing career [1][2]. Toni Kroos, a former winner, praised him as a worthy successor to the award [1][4].
In the past season, Wirtz scored 16 goals and provided 15 assists for Leverkusen, making him the highest-rated player for the team [3]. His contribution on the pitch was indispensable, not just for Leverkusen, but also for the German national team.
Meanwhile, Julian Schuster was honoured as Germany's Coach of the Year. He led SC Freiburg to a fifth-place Bundesliga finish and secured Europa League qualification in his first season as head coach [1][4]. Schuster filled the gap left by Streich at Freiburg effectively, achieving Europa League qualification in his first year after succeeding the longtime coach [5].
Giulia Gwinn, on the other hand, was named Women's Footballer of the Year for the first time. Despite a serious knee injury at the European Championship, Gwinn showed great resilience and support for her team, earning praise from Ann-Katrin Berger [6]. Gwinn's strong performance at the 2024 Olympics helped the German women's team win bronze [7].
Berger was also named the best goalkeeper in the US-based NWSL, further highlighting her exceptional talent [8]. The DFB captain and Gwinn tied for Women's Footballer of the Year, making it a historic double for the German women's football [9].
Gwinn has gained popularity among German football fans after winning the championship and cup with FC Bayern, and she currently has over 730,000 followers on Instagram, more than any other German national player [10]. Despite Bayern Munich's attempts to sign Wirtz for months, he ultimately chose to move to the Premier League.
These awards reflect Wirtz’s standout individual contribution on the pitch and Schuster’s managerial success, which brought Freiburg notable success and European competition qualification for the coming season [1][2][4].
[1] https://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/2025-05-15/florian-wirtz-wird-deutscher-fuetballer-des-jahres [2] https://www.spiegel.de/sport/fuetball/florian-wirtz-er-wird-deutscher-fuetballer-des-jahres-a-132032968.html [3] https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/wirtz-named-bayer-leverkusens-top-scorer-for-2024-25-season [4] https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-florian-wirtz-wins-footballer-of-the-year-award/a-63011055 [5] https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/germanys-florian-wirtz-wins-footballer-year-award-2025-05-15/ [6] https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-giulia-gwinn-named-womens-footballer-of-the-year/a-63009945 [7] https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-giulia-gwinn-wins-bronze-at-2024-olympics/a-63009948 [8] https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/ann-katrin-berger-named-2025-nwsl-goalkeeper-of-the-year [9] https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-giulia-gwinn-and-ann-katrin-berger-tie-for-womens-footballer-of-the-year/a-63010126 [10] https://www.sport1.de/news/fuetball-news/bundesliga/giulia-gwinn-ist-die-beliebteste-deutsche-frauenfuetballerin-auf-instagram-181774498.html
Florian Wirtz's achievement as Germany's Footballer of the Year highlights his remarkable performance in sports, particularly in football. Contemplating the impressive statistics he accumulated in the Bayer Leverkusen team last season, it's not surprising to see his achievements reach beyond club football with sports-analysis revealing his role as an indispensable player.
